HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Festival – Day Four

It’s been a fantastic week so far and we’re glad to have chalked up one winner, writes HARRY SKELTON.

Gold Cup Day always promises some fantastic racing and I know everyone is looking forward to seeing whether Galopin Des Champs can do the three-timer in the big race.

We’ve got three runners to round off the week, so we’re hoping for the best.

Triumph Hurdle 1.20pm

I’ll go for Lulamba in this, I think he’s a class act. From what we saw at Ascot, coupled with how well Nicky’s [Henderson] have been running this week, there looks to be plenty more to come for him.

County Hurdle 2.00pm

We’re running VALGRAND and I think he’s got every chance so long as we get nice ground. It seems to be perfect jumping ground at the moment and he’s in good form. The handicapper has given him a sensible chance and he’s been training well, so I’d give him a competitive each-way chance.

Mares’ Chase 2.40pm

I think it’s between Willie Mullins’ Dinoblue and Allegorie De Vassy. The former has to give the latter a few pounds and I think at this trip it might just go to Allegorie De Vassy. Dinoblue is the highest rated but there’s not much between the two, I just think with the weight that she’s giving away points me towards the other. I think Limerick Lace will run a good race, too.

Albert Bartlett 3.20pm

I think Jasmin De Vaux is interesting here stepping up to three miles. His jumping needs to improve but this step up should suit and he’s a very classy horse as he showed when seen winning the Champion Bumper last year. At the end of the day, it’s Paul Townend and Willie Mullins!

Gold Cup 4.00pm

Galopin Des Champs is a class above these and has looked incredible this season. He’s a staying powerhouse, and Fact To File did his form no harm by winning the Ryanair so impressively. I think he’ll win his third Gold Cup and do so impressively. I think Corbetts Cross will run into a place, too, he might like the ground a little softer though.

Hunters’ Chase 4.40pm

This is a competitive race and I’d give Fairly Famous a chance. He’s an improving point-to-pointer and we’ll be giving the family some support for my sister-in-law Gina Andrews. Good luck to them!

Martin Pipe 5.20pm

We run two here. NURSE SUSAN is a classy mare on her day but has been off for quite some time. We’ve done as much work as we can with her at home and I think she’ll come on for it. She looks nicely handicapped so whether she wins this or not we’ll see, but she definitely has a chance of being in the mix.

DOYEN QUEST hasn’t been running that well lately on softer ground than he likes, but we fit cheekpieces here for the first time which should sharpen him up. He’ll want a bit better ground in the spring and should be well handicapped when that time comes.